Adolph Kolping

Adolph Kolping (8 December 18134 December 1865) was a German Catholic priest and the founder of the Kolping Association. He led the movement for providing and promoting social support for workers in industrialized cities while also working to promote the dignities of workers in accordance with the social magisterium of the faith. He was called Gesellenvater (the Journeymen's Father).

The beatification for the priest commenced on 21 March 1934 and he was later titled as Venerable in 1989. His beatification was celebrated under Pope John Paul II on 27 October 1991 in Saint Peter's Square; his liturgical feast is not affixed to the date of his death as is the norm but rather on 6 December.

Life

Adolph Kolping was born on 8 December 1813 in Kerpen as the fourth of five children to the poor shepherd Peter Kolping (d. 12 April 1845) and Anna Maria Zurheyden (d. 4 April 1833). He often lived in the shadow of frail health during his childhood. Kolping's desire for higher education never ceased. In summer 1834 he attended the Three Kings School and afterwards in 1841 began his theological education at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (1841–1842) as well as later at the University of Bonn (1842–1844) and the University of Cologne (26 March 1844 – 1845). His time spent on his studies saw him become friends with the future Bishop of Mainz Wilhelm Emmanuel von Ketteler.

Kolping was ordained to the priesthood on 13 April 1845 in Cologne's Minoritenkirche but his father died the night before such that his ordination was full of mixed emotions. He first served in Elberfeld – now part of Wuppertal – as a chaplain and religious education teacher from 1845 until 1849. There a number of journeymen carpenters had founded a choral society with the aid of a teacher and the local clergy. It grew rapidly into a Young Workmen's Society with the acknowledged object of fostering the religious life of the members, and at the same time of improving their mechanical skill. In 1847, he became the second president of the Gesellenverein, German Catholic societies for the religious, moral, and professional improvement of young men which gave its members both religious and social support. The Cologne society soon acquired its own home, and opened therein a hospice for young traveling journeymen. In his efforts to develop the work Kolping was energetic and undaunted. He was eloquent both as speaker and writer. He visited the great industrial centres of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary.

He died on 4 December 1865 due to lung cancer; he had suffered from a severe joint inflammation in his right forearm that spring.

"Let's show Christian living in ever more practical ways and the present will be better and the future brighter." Historians approved the cause on 24 February 1987 while the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (CCS) received the Positio from the postulation in 1988. Theologians approved the cause on 15 January 1988 as did the CCS on 18 April 1989; the confirmation of his heroic virtue allowed for Pope John Paul II to name him as Venerable on 13 May 1989.

The miracle that led to his beatification was investigated in the diocese of origin and later received C.C.S. validation on 5 December 1987 before a medical board approved it on 24 January 1990. The theologians also approved the cause on 18 May 1990 as did the CCS on 23 October 1990 while John Paul II issued his definitive approval for it on 22 January 1991. The pope beatified Kolping on 27 October 1991 in Saint Peter's Square. The first American branch of the Kolping Society began in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1856. As of 2021, there are branches in over thirty countries. The International Headquarters is located across the street from the Minoritenkirche. in 1996 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.